Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 13 000 students, 400 professors, and more than 4 500 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

The School of Chemical Engineering is one of the six schools of Aalto University. It combines natural sciences and engineering in a unique way.

The Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems is looking for a

Doctoral Researcher in Wood Science and Chemistry

We seek a highly qualified, talented, and motivated individual, with an enthusiastic attitude towards high-quality research, to work on next generation structural materials made of super-engineered wood (within a SUPERWOOD consortium). This two-party consortium (Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems and Department of Civil Engineering) comprises of two supplementing projects. The research activities of the candidate will focus on the modifying wood microstructures to yield strong and functional wood based structural materials. The present position is fully funded by a Research Council of Finland project (https://research.fi/en/results/funding/81529) led by Dr. Bruno Mattos.

Scientific Environment

The Circular Biobased Materials group (www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-bioproducts-and-biosystems/circular-biobased-materials) is dedicated to advancing sustainable solutions for materials development, production, and utilization. Our primary focus lies in harnessing the potential of non-utilized biobased resources to create materials that adhere to the principles of circular and bioeconomy. We seek strategies to better convert biobased precursors into materials, while considering the best scenario for their end-of-life.

Requirements

By the time of recruitment, at latest in November 2024, the selected candidate should have a master’s degree in a related field, e.g., wood science, chemistry, or applied physics.

The candidate should have excellent grades from the bachelor and master level courses in related areas.

Proficiency in written and spoken English are required as well. Experience in co-authoring scientific articles in high-quality journals is not a necessary requirement but an advantage.

 
What we offer

Aalto University offers excellent learning and development opportunities, provides an inspiring and supportive working environment, and a diverse professional community to work with. By joining our group, you would get the possibility to develop multidisciplinary research skills and be engaged in collaboration with other research groups in Aalto and abroad. Traveling with research visits to leading research groups outside Finland will provide knowledge and experience exchange and help to establish long-term international relationships.

Besides conducting high-quality scientific research, you will also get a unique opportunity to develop your supervising and teaching skills, e.g., by instructing graduate and undergraduate students as well as acting as a teaching assistant for some of the department courses.

Doctoral studies at Aalto University take approximately four years. The selected candidate will be granted a one-year contract with the possibility of extension. The starting salary for a doctoral researcher is 3000 EUR/month and will increase with responsibilities and performance over time.

If you are chosen for this position, you will apply for the study right in doctoral studies at Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering. Thus, please check the student information and admission criteria at https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-options/aalto-doctoral-programme-in-chemical-engineering. In particular, please pay attention to the mandatory skill level in English.


Ready to apply?

If you want to join our community, please submit the following application materials through the ’Apply now’ link:

• Motivation letter - including contact information (max. 1 page)
• Curriculum Vitae - including publications if any and contact information for at least one reference (max. 2 pages)
• Master’s degree certificate - including a translation to English (if the original is not in English, Finnish or Swedish)
• Transcripts of records - including both bachelor and master level studies
• Description of MSc thesis project (max. 1 page)

These documents (written in English) must be combined, in the given order, into a single pdf file (named ‘lastname_firstname_application.pdf’) and attached to the online application.

Please note: Aalto University’s employees should apply for the position via internal HR system Workday (Internal Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account (not via the external webpage for open positions). Aalto University’s students and visitors should apply as external candidates with personal (not Aalto) email.

The submission deadline is October 11, 2024, at 23:59 Finnish time. Position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is identified.

Aalto University reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, to extend the application period, reopen the application process, and to consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

For more information

For additional information, please contact Dr. Bruno Mattos via email (bruno.mattos@aalto.fi) with the subject “PhD position in Wood Science and Chemistry”.

Want to know more about us and your future colleagues?
You can watch these videos: Aalto University - Towards a better world,  Aalto People , and Shaping a Sustainable Future.

Read more about working at Aalto: https://www.aalto.fi/en/careers-at-aalto  

About Finland

Finland is a great place for living with or without family - it is a safe, politically stable and well-organized Nordic society. Finland is consistently ranked high in quality of life and was just listed again as the happiest country in the world: https://worldhappiness.report/news/its-a-three-peat-finland-keeps-top-spot-as-happiest-country-in-world/ . For more information about living in Finland: https://www.aalto.fi/en/careers-at-aalto/living-in-finland  

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